Convertible vehicle toy



Sept. 9, 1930. v F. A. LUNDAHL 7 1,775,251

CONVERTIBLE VEHICLE TOY Filed Oct. 13, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 9, 1930. F. A. LUNDAHL 1,775,251

CONVERTIBLE VEHICLE TOY Filed Oct. 13. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 p 1930. F. A. LUNDAHL 1,775,251

CONVERTIBLE VEHICLE TOY Filed Oct. 13, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 SW20? W Sept. 9, 1930. F. A. LUNDAHL 1,775,251

CONVERTIBLE VEHICLE TOY Filed Oct. 13, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Sept. 9, 1930.

F. A. LUNDAHL CONVERTIBLE VEI'IIQLE TOY Filed Oct. 13, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I l I l I l l Patented Sept. 9, 1930 PATENT OFFICE FREDERICK A. LUNDAHL, OF EAST MOLINE, ILLINOIS CONVERTIBLE VEHICLE TOY Application filed October 13, 1926. Serial No. 141,344.

This invention relates to convertible vehicle I toys.

body, a moving van body for the vehicle, said closed body portion being readily and quickly attachable and detachable with respect to the vehicle to convert the same from one type of vehicle to another.

Other and further objects of the invention will more clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following.

In the drawings, forming a part of this specification, Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a toy vehicle embodying my improvements.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal, vertical, sectional view of the invention substantially upon the line 22 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a horizontal, sectional view of the toy substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4'is an end elevational view of the closed body, showing the same applied to the permanent body, the wheels of the vehicle being omitted. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal, sectional view 1 of the invention substantiallyon the line 5-5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary horizon- I tal View of the invention substantially upon the line 6-6 of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a transverse, sectional viewof the invention substantially on the line 77 of Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary transverse, sectional view of the in vention upon the line 88 of Fig. 1; Fig. 9 is a fragmentary transverse, sectional viewof the invention substantially upon the line 99 of Fig. 1. And Fig. 10 is a fragmentary transverse, sectional view of the invention substantially upon the line 101O of Fig. 1.

r In said drawings, the'vehicle toy is shown as provided with corner wheels arranged in a front pair as indicatedat 10 anda rear pair indicated at 11. The front pair of Wheels are rotatably mounted on a front axle indicated at 12, which may be mounted in a suitable manner as by springs, to the main truck frame or chassis 13. The rear wheels indicated at 11 are also rotatably mounted upon the axle 14 which is secured by springs indicated at 15 to the chassis 13. The chassis 13 is of rectangular formation, including side channel members with the flanges turned inwardly toward each other, and suitable transverse members for connecting the side channel members together. The forward portion of the frame is connected together by the front axle and channel not shown.

Upon the forward portion of the chassis 13, there is mounted the seat 16, fenders indicated at 17, short running boards 18, a hood 19, and radiator as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing. A steering wheel 21 is provided and is connected up with the front wheels for steering the vehicle in a suitable manner.

No claim is made herein to the structure of the parts heretofore referred to, except. in combination with the matter hereinafter more specifically described.

My invention relates to a toy comprising a vehicle of the character above described, or similar arrangement, in which the vehicle is provided with an open bed or body indicated at 22, said bed being of rectangular formation, and comprising a bottom wall 23, front wall 24: and side walls 2525 rigidly secured together, said body being mounted upon a series of Z shaped cross braces 2626, which are riveted to the bottom 23 of the bed and spotwelded to the channel members 13 of the chassis. The side walls 25-25 of the bed are provided with outwardly and upwardly disposed longitudinally extending inclined flared portions 2727, each'of said flange portions being provided with a plurality of apertures 28 of a formation adapted to permit the passage of side stakes as hereinafter described. Upon each of the side walls 25-25 is disposed a longitudinally extending member 29 provided with a plurality of loops 3030, said looped portions being arranged in line with the apertures 28 in the flared portions of the body member.

A tail gate 31 of a width corresponding substantially to the height of the side walls 25 is provided, said tail gate having straps 32-32 thereon which extend through openings in the bottom wall 23 and are looped as indicated at 33 and have the end portions of said loops spot welded with the body portion of the gate 31. The end portions 34-34 of the gate 31 are extended laterally. beyond the main portion thereof so as to fit upon the upper surfaces of the flared portions 27-27 as best shown in Fig. 4, the extensions.

34 being provided with tongues 35'35 extending through suitable apertures in the flared portions 2 727, the construction being such that when the tail gate 31is elevated as permitted by the loops-33, the tongues 35-35 are disconnected from the apertures in the.

flared portions 27-27, and the tail gate 31 may be swung outwardly to open the end of the body or bed of the vehicle.

-The vehicle thus provided is complete in itself and may be used to transport materials from place to place and utilized for coasting by children if desired, as thevehicle is capable of sustaining great weight. 1

-When it is desired, the vehicle as above described may be converted into a vehicle of a.

' are spot-welded to the inner surfaces of the forward "portions of the side walls 4040 as 1 best shown in Figure3, while the upper edge of the front wall 41 is providedwith a curved flange 45 which is spot-welded to the top wall 43 of the van body. The side walls 40-40' are provided with extensions indicated at 46.

which are secured to the overhanging front portion of the top wall'43. A plurality of braces 4747 are provided for reinforcing the top wall 43 of the van body. Each of said braces preferably comprises a'plate-like me1nher having a curved flange 48 which is spotwelded to the top wall43, and includes a web 49 arranged substantially normal to said top wall, -whi ch web terminates in a lower marginal flange 50. Each of said braces also is provided at each end with an angular flange orwing indicated at 51 which flanges are spot welded to the side walls 4040 of the van body, as best shown in Figure 2. The

rear edges of the side walls 40-40 are pro vided with inturned flanges 52.'52 and the upper portions of said flanges are so' disposed that the rear wall 42 may be spot-welded thereto. The rear wall 42 comprises a plate of restricted Width, the ends of which are disposed at the inner sides of the upper portions of the inturned flanges 5252 on the side walls and spot-welded thereto. Said rear Wall also includes a curved flange 53 which isspotwelded to the rear edge of the top wall 43 of the van body. The rear wall 42 is further provided with a plate 54 havinga pressed rib 54 adjacent the lower edge thereof, and

below said rib the rear wall 42 is turned inwardly to provide a strengthening flange 55.

As before stated the rear wall 42 is relatively narrow so as to leave the rear end of the body portion" openf'doors 56-56 being provided for closingthe rear open end of the van body. Each of said doors 56 comprises a pressed sheet metal plate having. the edges thereof turned inwardly on all four sides as indicated at57, soas to avoid sharpedges. The body. portion of each door is embossed by pressing the metal outwardly as indicated at 58. Each of the doors 56 is provided along one edge with hinge straps 59-7-59, which are 7 adapted to cooperate with. pressed metal hinge buts 60, which are spot welded to the adjacent inturned flange 52 of the side wall, the hingestraps and hinge butts being provided with interengaging eyes adapted'for the reception ofa pivot pin 61. Both of the doors are of similar construction as above described, and mounted in such manner that the free edgesthereof are arranged in juxtaposition .when closed. The free edge'of one of" V the doors-is provided with a pivoted latch 62 having a perforated flange 63 provided with an opening adapted to register with a flange 64. formed on the keeper 65 spot-welded to theother door, the openings in the flanges being adapted for the receptionof the hasp of alock66. As bestshown Figures 2 and 4, the doors 56*56 are of restricted width so that the lower edges thereof. terminate a considerable distance from the lower edges of the side walls 40-40, thus providing room for the tailgate 31 which closes the lower portion of the body when used as avan, as well as performing its normal functionof'elosing the rear end of the permanent bed of the ve-- hicle. The van body is of such size and the' side and front walls spaced apart such distance, that the van body whena'pplied in position fits snugly within the side and front permanent bed, or body of the walls of the vehicle. P

' In order t0 provide means for preventing tilting or undesirable movementof the van body with reference to the bed of the vehicle there are provided a number of vertically disposed stakes 67 which are spot-welded at intervals to the opposite side walls 40'40 of the van body. 'Each of the stakes 67 is made up of sheet metal having a central pressed longitudinally extending rib 68, and main ginal side flanges 69-69 which are" spotwelded to therelated sidewall 40, as best seen in Figures 8 and 9. The lower end portion of each of the stakes 67 is offset outwardly as indicated at 7 O in Figure 10, so as to clear the adjacent side wall 25 of the permanent bed of the vehicle, extending thence through one of the apertures 28 provided in the flared portion 27 of the permanent bed in substantial parallelism with the upper portion of the stake, the lower portion 71 fitting within one of the loops 30 of the member 29. As many of the stakes 67 may be provided as desired and it will be appreciated that this arrangement prevents tilting of the van body by reason of the twopoint bearing afforded by the engagement of the lower portions of the side walls of the van body, and the lower portions of the stakes, with the inner and outer surfaces of the side walls 25-25 of the permanent bed, all of these parts being designed to fit snugly to prevent accidental detachment while permitting intentional detachment of the van body when it is desired to use the vehicle with the ordinary permanent bed.

Preferably the side walls 40-40 of the van body are cut out as indicated at 72 to provide a plurality of spaced rectangular openings, and at the rear end of each side wall beyond the openings 72 there is provided a strip of sheet metal pressed into Z formation, one flange 74 of which is spotwelded to the adjacent side wall, the web 75 of which extends inwardly substantially perpendicular adjacent to the side wall and the remaining flange 76 of which is disposed in substantial parallel relation with the flange 74. At the front end of each side wall beyond the openings 72 there is provided a strip of sheet metal pressed into angle formation as indicated at 7 6 one flange of which is spotwelded to the front wall 41, the remaining flange being parallel to the side wall 40 and at distance great enough to accommodate the wire mesh screen. At the top and bottom of each of the openings 72 there are provided 2 shaped strips, said strips being indicated at 77, the strips 73 and 77 and the angle strip 7 6 at the front end being arranged to accommodate the edges of a wire mesh screen 7 8 so that such screen is held in position upon the inner surfaces of the side walls of the van body and extends over the openings 72.

By the above described arrangement, it will be appreciated that the van body may be readily attached and detached with reference to the permanent bed so as to convert the toy whenever desired into one having a van body, the doors of the permanent body and of the van body being arranged to cooperate to provide a complete enclosure at the rear of the van body, and the stakes being so arranged with reference to the van body and to the permanent body as to prevent tilting, or undesirable movement between the van body and the permanent body while permitting convenient attachment and detachment between the parts.

While I have herein shown and described what I now consider the preferred manner of carrying out my invention, the same is merely illustrative and jl contemplate all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a toy of the character described, the combination with a wheeled frame; of a bed permanently secured to said frame and provided with side walls having flared edge portions provided with spaced apertures; a body portion having walls telescopically engaged with the surfaces at one side of the side walls of said bed for the full width of said walls; and means secured to the side walls of said body portion, and having portions off-set with respect thereto and extending through the apertures in the flared portions of the side walls of said bed, said off-set portions being arranged to bear against the surfaces of the side walls of the bed opposite to those surfaces with which the side walls of said body are in engagement.

2. In a convertible toy, the combination with a wheeled frame provided with a permanent box-shaped bed thereon; of a detachable box-shaped body having front and opposite side walls telescopically engaging the corresponding walls of said permanent bed and cooperating therewith to provide a body of the closed type, said detachable body when in operative position resting upon the floor of said box-shaped bed.

3. In a toy, the combination with a wheeled chassis; of a bed including bottom, side and end walls; a body having side and end walls, one of said end walls and said side walls being telescoped with the corresponding walls of said bed and resting upon the bottom wall of said bed; and holding means on the walls of said body and secured thereto, said means being offset to extend upon the sides of the walls of said bed opposite to those engaged by the walls of said body portion.

4. In a toy of the character described, the combination with a van body having side, front and a curved top wall of sheet metal; and means for bracing said top and side walls, said means comprising a plurality of braces, each of sheet metal, and having a curved flange rigidly aflixed directly to the undersurface of said top wall, having a portion extending inwardly of said top wall substantially at right angles thereto, and provided with a laterally extending flange at its inner end, the ends of said member being provided with integral angular flanges rigidly secured directly to the side walls of said van body.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 2nd day of September, 1926.

FREDERICK A. LUNDAHL. 

